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Committee reviews town bridge aid balances and considers raising emergency reserve to $100,000
Summary
Staff reported $160,000 unencumbered emergency funds and over $900,000 of approved town bridge aid; Town of Pelican faces an estimated $155,000 shortfall on a replacement because the State will not cover the underestimated costs; staff will update policy and return with a recommended cap.
Dan Gleason told the committee there is roughly $160,000 of unencumbered funds available for bridge emergencies and more than $900,000 in approved town bridge aid commitments. He said the county’s policy—approved six to seven years earlier—maintains $50,000 for emergencies; Commissioner Ben Rich suggested increasing the emergency reserve to $100,000.
Gleason described the Town of Pelican’s bridge replacement project as under-estimated by the town and said the State would not pay the difference, leaving the town about $155,000 short; the town has submitted an application for 2027 but the project could be completed in 2026 and staff noted there is enough surplus to reimburse Pelican in 2026 if requested even if levied for 2027. Gleason said he would update the bridge aid policy with the committee’s direction and return with a proposed change for approval.
Committee members discussed whether to set a cap on reimbursements and how to account for other funding sources when towns list full project costs. No formal policy change was adopted at this meeting; staff will prepare updated policy language and bring it back for committee consideration.
